Too few meetings, member believes

The frequency of committee meetings was under scrutiny at yesterday's inaugural disability support and community and public health advisory committee meeting in Dunedin, with one member saying once every two months was not enough.

The committee, already combining disability and public health since last June, has now been pencilled in to meet every two months, instead of every month.

The committee, which met yesterday for the first time for this term, has just four members.

Chairman Dr Malcolm Macpherson said that if two-monthly meetings did not work, extra dates would be added.

The situation was flexible. It was also possible to make greater use of "workshops". Unlike meetings, these are normally closed to the public and the media.

Committee member Kaye Crowther did not think once every two months was enough. She had enough experience to know too many issues would accumulate in two months for the situation to work, she said.

However, funding and finance general manager Robert Mackway Jones said only a few major pieces of work in the committee's areas of interest were under way, and it was not necessary to meet every month to check their progress.

Dr Macpherson said the committee's numbers might be bolstered. It was possible appointed District Health Board member Tahu Potiki would join, as well as the yet-to-be-named appointment.

Health Minister Tony Ryall is yet to name that person. Members also considered community health groups that could present matters to the board.

Committee member Neville Cook said it was important that community groups invited to speak did not automatically see it as a chance to seek more DHB funding.

- eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz